As a private institution, the University of Southern California chooses to manage its expansion efforts very carefully. Generally, this means that only one chapter will be invited to start colonization efforts in a given year.

Our overall objective is to select an organization that will contribute to the college undergraduate experience of its members. Not only do we seek an organization that espouses ideals consistent with those of universities, but also an organization that will commit the human and financial resources necessary to assure some achievement of those ideals. Each organization should, of course, present its own plan. However, the more specific and concrete the plan can be, especially with respect to the extent and duration of support after the initial colonization period, the more favorable our consideration will be.

The following items would be considered minimal, rather than optimal. Each organization should consider how it can specifically assure a strong organization capable of contributing to the education, leadership development, and character development of its future members.

The following criteria will be used by the Greek Coordinating, Council upon the recommendation of the Interfraternity Council, in their selection decision:

1. Local Alumni Support: Including strength of alumni associations, number of local alumni, financial support and potential advisors/house corporation. The following will be minimum standards for this category:
   1. There must be a local alumni club established and a calendar of events from the past two years must be submitted
   2. There must be at least 3-5 alumni willing to assume active positions as advisors and corporation board members
2. Financial Backing for Housing: The national fraternity organization/local alumni club must be prepared to help the new chapter obtain suitable housing within the next two years. While housing around Fraternity and Sorority Row is currently scarce, the financial ability to procure a property is necessary should an opportunity arise.
3. Strength: Assessed by number of active chapters, number of chapters gained and lost in the last five years, average percentage of pledges initiated, rushing statistics and success on other Southern California campuses.
4. Support Staff: Including graduate counselors and field representatives as well as the colonization team. The following will be minimum standards for this category:
   1. There must be a graduate counselor or other field representative to live and work with the colony and new chapter for the period of at least two years after installation/chartering. The University's Greek House Advisor program may suffice for this requirement.
   2. There must be one national officer that assumes responsibility for the colonization process and is in attendance at the colony rush for the first two years after colonization.
   3. There must be specific commitment to continuing support for the new chapter over a five year period in the form of extra visitations by field representatives and national officers, funding for increased chapter attendance at National Leadership Training Conferences, Development of Alumni Support, and consideration of Resident Graduate Advisors.
5. Success of Recent Colonizations: The Expansion Committee will solicit the opinions of Fraternity Advisors on other campuses where the fraternity has recently made colonization efforts.
6. Quality of Nationally Supervised Programs: Fraternities must provide, for the Expansion Committee's examinations, written materials describing their pledge education programs, policies on hazing, alcohol and drug abuse, member development programs, programs for active/alumnae interaction, rushing and membership selection programs, and other programs of note.
7. Chapter Development/Programs: Fraternities must provide written materials describing chapter programs and methods of implementation for scholarship development, self-discipline, character development, and broad based involvement of membership in chapter responsibilities.
8. University of Southern California Minimum Standards: USC has a set of minimum standard to which all chapters must adhere. Any successful application will include a detailed plan on the steps the chapter will employ to meet or exceed these standards set forth by USC and the Interfraternity Council.
9. Quality of Proposed Colonization Procedure: Minimum standards in this category will be
   1. An orderly colonization procedure, outlined in writing and previously tested on other campuses.
   2. Plans for rushing staff including actives from other campuses and national and province officers.
   3. Financial backing for the colony rush.
   4. Plans to cooperate with IFC in planning and publicizing the colony rush.
   5. Plans for training of colony officers and members.

These guidelines provide general direction for groups interested in colonizing at USC. They are not intended to be exhaustive and additional criteria or modifications to these guidelines may be implemented/required at the discretion of the expansion committee.

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